The editor of an independent Egyptian daily Dustour, Islam Afifi, has been released from jail hours after the president issued a new law that bans imprisoning journalists on charges related to their articles.

This was the first time President Mohammed Mursi had issued a law since he assumed legislative powers earlier this month.

Afifi, freed late on Thursday, had been held in custody pending his trial in September.

He had criticized Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, and has been charged with slandering the president.